From mum to midwife?

Having children is so wonderful but it has done something to me that I never imagined it would. It has made me realise I can change the way my life is heading and start working towards becoming a midwife - quite a change from a journalist but in many respects there are so many similarities. The career break to look after the children has made such a perfect opportunity to retrain. When I left work to have M four years ago I did so knowing that I would not be returning. How anyone can afford childcare to return to work mystifies me but I had assumed when I returned to work it would be in some form on journalism or communication. Thankfully I have had the chance to step away from journalism and it confirmed what I thought - I love writing but I don't need to do it for a living. I realised that I want a career that means something. That makes a difference. That allows me to help others. To build relationships. To stand up for other people but had I not had children would I have taken such a risk and given up a full time job to follow my dreams? I would like to think I would but I wonder if financially I could have.

Of course having children is part of the reason that I know I want to become a midwife. I got to experience midwifery, from a patients viewpoint, and it really fuelled my passion for it. For years I have kept up to date with midwifery news and I love how things are constantly being updated. If I become a midwife (which will soon be down to the university to decide) I will get the opportunity to work in a field where I will constantly have to keep my knowledge updated. Already I find myself going to bed with a midwifery textbook or journal so this will come naturally. It won't be easy but I need to do this. For me, for my kids, for my family. Studying with three young ones I can see being such a hard juggling act but it will be worth it in the end.

It is amazing how much life can change completely in just a few short years. I am so excited for the future, of being something other than just mum. I look forward to sharing my joy of breastfeeding (5 months exclusive feeding and counting!), of my love for skin-to-skin and baby wearing. For seeing mire woman who choose to have an elective c-section to get a "gentle section" if they so choose. I look forward to standing up for woman when they feel lost, confused, scared. I just can't wait to meet women and their families, to build relationships, to learn new skills and to find my way into this most exciting profession.

Training Mummy

Training Mummy is a 30 something mum to two beautiful children - a girl born February 2014 and a boy born in October 2015.